Eyeing her 10^th career win, the Craig Weeding-trained Controversial Miss (Cassidy Hill, 52kg) will look to claim her second Hay Cup (1400m) on Saturday.

The Dissident mare won the Hay Cup in 2023 with Connor Murtagh in the saddle as the pair prevailed by a flared nostril in what turned out to be a sensational finish.

Having missed the chance to defend her title in 2024, the 7YO heads back to Hay on Saturday as one of the likely favourites in the $20,000 feature.

Racing in good order, Controversial Miss won at Berrigan last start, triumphing by 1.26 lengths in the 1400m Benchmark 50 Handicap.

Weeding has a team of five runners heading to Hay, including Tristania (Cassidy Hill, 54kg) in the 800m Maiden Plate and Soo Kiss Me (Cassidy Hill, 52kg) in the 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap.

The stable also has The Village Fox (Cassidy Hill, 56kg) and My City Warrior (Hannah Le Blanc, 54kg) in the 1200m Maiden Plate.

It’s going to be a busy few days for the stable, with runners at Tatura and Hay on Saturday, Kilmore on Sunday, and Albury on Monday.

Of the stable’s notable chances, on Saturday, Indispensable (Jake Duffy, 62kg) will contest the Tatura Cup (1450m), and Black Frost (Jake Duffy, 58kg) gets his chance in the 1980m Maiden Plate.

Indispensable wasn't disgraced in the $100,000 Snake Gully Cup last sart, finishing 5th, and will go around as the top weight in the Tatura Cup.

On Sunday, Amber Star (Jake Duffy, 58kg) takes on the 1600m Benchmark 66 Handicap, and Yam (Jake Duffy, 61kg) will run in the 1450m Benchmark 66 Handicap.

At Albury, Saker Falcon (Jake Duffy, 59kg) is an interesting runner, having drawn the inside gate in the 1400m Maiden Plate.

 

Words/Image: Jeff Hanson